Check your English vocabulary book _5 pdf

are signed.
When buying a property, you should always employ the
services of a good surveyor to carry out a thorough
survey (to make sure that the property is in good
condition, and that no repairs need to be made). It is also
essential that you employ the services of a good solicitor,
who will carry out various legal checks on the property.
Accommodation can be rented from a local authority
(such as your local council). You will need to get your
name on a waiting list known as a housing register. This
housing is allocated on a priority basis: people with the
greatest needs are allocated housing before anyone else
(for example, people with young children, women who
are expecting a baby, etc).
Accommodation can also be rented from housing
associations. These are independent organisations that
provide accommodation for people who need it. They do
not make a profit. Many offer shared-ownership
schemes for people who want to own property but who
cannot afford it.
A lot of property is privately owned and rented out by
landlords. They often run their property through a
letting agency, but many advertise their property
themselves in newspapers. If you rent accommodation
this way, you will be expected to sign a contract known as
a lease (also called a tenancy agreement). In most cases,
you will be expected to pay a deposit (usually one
month's rent, which you should get back when you leave
the property, provided the property and everything in it is
in good condition). Rent is then normally paid monthly in
advance, which means that you pay for each month you

are there at the beginning of that month.
Before you agree to move into rented accommodation,
you should always check a few important points: whether
the accommodation is furnished (are there beds, sofas,
etc already in the property?), how long the tenancy lasts
(most are for six months, with an option to extend at the
end of that period), and whether or not there are any
special rules (for example, many landlords specify that you
cannot smoke in their property, or that you cannot have
pets). If you break these rules, you could be evicted (told
to leave the property).
Note that the person living in rented accommodation (the
tenant) cannot be forced out of their home without
being given sufficient notice (a written note that they
must leave the property). Also note that landlords cannot
discriminate against someone because of their sex, race,
religion, etc (in other words, it is illegal to refuse someone
accommodation on these grounds).
People who are unemployed or on a low income could be
entitled to receive housing benefit. This is money which is
paid by the local authority to cover all or part of the rent.
Legal matters 1 (page 24)
1. (b) The Home Secretary (although individual police
forces decide what sort of work they should do in a
particular area). 2. forces. 3. Usually no. Some
specially-trained officers carry guns (also called firearms) in
certain situations and in certain places (for example, areas
where there is a high risk of terrorist activity, such as at
airports or outside major government buildings). 4. 999
or 112 (but only in emergencies). This number can also be

called if you need an ambulance, the fire service,
mountain rescue, cave rescue or the coastguard. 5. Yes,
certain types of crime can be reported online (through the
police website www.online.police.uk). 6. Yes to both.
Penalties for carrying a (potentially) lethal weapon can
result in a prison sentence. 7. Life / property /
disturbances (they must keep the peace) / crime. 8. Yes,
you can. Misconduct (= rudeness, abuse, racial or sexual
discrimination, etc) is taken very seriously. You can
complain in person or by writing to your local police
station. Alternatively, you can write to the Chief
Constable of the force involved, or contact the
Independent Police Complaints Commission. 9. They can
stop you if you are on foot and search you if they think
that a crime has, or might / is going to, take place, or if
they think you are carrying a weapon, drugs, etc. They can
stop you in a vehicle at any time and search it. 10. You
should give them your name and address, but you do not
have to give them any other information (although most
people do if asked). 11. You can ask them for their
name, the police station they work from, and the reason
why they have stopped you. 12. If you use abusive
language or threats of violence, you could be arrested.
13. warrant / magistrate / arrest / save / damage /
disturbance. 14. caution / evidence / interpreter /
solicitor / duty / solicitor / message / practice. 15. Yes, if
you are victim of violent crime. The Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority is an organisation that pays
compensation to victims of violent crime, provided the
crime is reported immediately to the police, and the

application for compensation is made within two years of
the crime taking place.
Legal matters 2 (pages 25 – 26)
Exercise 1:
1. small claims court 2. Court of Appeal (also called an
Appeal Court) 3. lawyer 4. witness 5. County Court
(there are about 270 County Courts in England and
Wales. They are presided over by either district judges or
circuit judges. They deal mainly with claims regarding
money, but also deal with family matters, bankruptcies
and claims concerning land) 6. European Court of
Human Rights 7. employment tribunal 8. Magistrates'
Court 9. magistrate 10. Citizens’ Advice (sometimes
abbreviated to CAB) 11. Crown Court 12. jury (a
person who serves on a jury is called a juror) 13. Jury
service 14. rent tribunal 15. High Court 16.
European Court of Justice (ECJ for short. It is also called
the Court of Justice of the European Communities) 17.
solicitor 18. No win, no fee 19. barrister 20.
House of Lords 21. coroner's court (an investigation held
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66
Answer key
here is called an inquest) 22. coroner 23. judge 24.
CPS (= Crown Prosecution Service) 25. youth court 26.
suspect 27. sentence 28. defendant 29. Legal aid
30. dispute
Note that there are several differences between the court
systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland (for example,
there are 15 people on a jury in Scotland, and cases are

heard in a Sheriff's Court). For more information on these
systems, go to the following websites:
½ www.scotcourts.gov.uk ½ www.courtsni.gov.uk
Exercise 2
:
1. solicitor(s) / County Court 2. Citizens’ Advice /
employment tribunal 3. small claims court 4. rent
tribunal 5. dispute / High Court / Court of Appeal
6. Magistrates' Court / magistrate / Crown Court /
barrister (or lawyer) / jury / judge / sentences
Leisure (pages 27 – 28)
Across
:
5. Wimbledon 6. holiday 7. National Trust 10. library
11. exhibitions 15. freeview 18. Prevention / Cruelty
23. footpaths 24. Grand National 25. damage
26. museums / galleries
Down
:
1. cricket 2. bank 3. alcohol 4. licence 8. activities
9. Ordnance Survey 12. public house 13. Adult
education 14. bed / breakfast 16. parental guidance
17. concessions 19. Cup Final 20. lottery
21. commercials 22. gambling
The monarchy (page 29)
1. Britain has a constitutional monarchy, which means
that the powers and rights of the King or Queen (the
monarch) are limited by the basic laws and principles of
the country. 2. The name of the current monarch is
Queen Elizabeth II, and she has reigned the country

since 1952. 3. Her official London residence is at
Buckingham Palace, but she has other residences
around the country that she uses. 4. Her husband is
called Prince Phillip (the Duke of Edinburgh) and they
have four children. 5. Their eldest child is Charles (the
Prince of Wales, and the person who will eventually
succeed the Queen: he is the heir to the throne). 6. Her
other children are Prince Andrew (the Duke of York),
Prince Edward (the Earl of Wessex) and Princess Anne
(known as the Princess Royal). 7. Collectively, they are
known as the Royal Family, and are sometimes referred
to as the House of Windsor (after their family name, which
changed from Saxe-Coburg during the First World War).
8. The monarch is the Head of State of the United
Kingdom, and is also the monarch or head of state of
many of the countries in the British Commonwealth (an
organisation of countries that used to be under the
political control of the UK). She is also the head of the
Church of England. 9. The monarch's limited powers
and rights (see number 1 above) are known as the royal
prerogative. However, her role is one of a figurehead (a
leader with no real power of influence) and is largely
ceremonial. 10. For example, she meets and greets
foreign heads of state. Each year she also opens
Parliament and gives the Queen's speech, in which she
outlines the policies of the government for the coming
year. 11. This speech does not express her views: it
expresses the views of the Prime Minister and the ruling
political party. 12. The monarch must accept any
decisions made by the Cabinet and by Parliament.

13. The monarch cannot voice support for or opposition
to the government. However, he or she can advise, warn
and encourage the government, usually at a weekly
meeting with the Prime Minister. 14. Following advice
from the Prime Minister, the monarch can appoint
people to high positions in the government, the Church
of England and the armed forces. 15. The monarchy is
very popular in Britain, although increasing numbers of
people want to remove the current system and replace it
with a republic and an elected President.
Money and finance (pages 30 – 31)
1. The pound sterling (shown by the symbol £. There are
100 pence in the pound). 2. (a) £5, (b) £10, (c) £20, (d)
£50 (Coins come in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p,
20p, 50p, £1 and £2). 3. Yes. And banknotes printed by
the Bank of England are legal tender in Scotland and
Northern Ireland. 4. No, the United Kingdom does not
use the Euro. Some larger shops in popular tourist areas
may accept Euros, although they will give customers
change in sterling. They may also accept US dollars. 5. If
you are changing foreign currency in a bank or foreign
exchange (also called a bureau de change). The exchange
rate is the value of the money of one country when you
change it into the money of another country. Commission
charges refer to the money you must pay for the bank,
etc, to change your money. 6. Some form of
identification that shows your name and the place where
you live (for example, a utilities bill, a passport, a driving
licence, etc). 7. Among other things, banks can sell you
insurance, exchange foreign currency, arrange and act as

executors for wills, offer financial advice, and offer special
banking services for small companies and independent
traders. You can also invest money in shares through a
bank, send money abroad and pay household bills. 8. A
loan is money that you borrow in order to buy something.
A mortgage is a special kind of loan used to buy a house
or other building over a period of time. 9. Banks and
building societies provide almost identical financial
services. However, building societies are generally
considered to be better places to save money (they pay
higher interest), and also to get a mortgage if you want to
buy a house (because they charge a lower rate of interest).
10. The main reason is that many UK companies pay their
employees' salaries directly into their bank account.
11. (d) a (bank) statement. A balance is the amount of
money you have in your account. 12. An overdraft
facility lets you take money from your account even when
there is no money in it. There is a limit to the amount you
can take out, and in most cases you will need to pay
Answer key
Answer key
67
interest when this happens. 13. A credit card (for
example, Visa, American Express) allows you to buy
something from a shop and pay for it later. A debit card
(for example, Maestro) is a substitute for cash: money is
taken directly from your bank account. 14. You can use
a debit card to pay for products and services in shops, etc.
A cash card can only be used to withdraw money from a
cash machine (often called a Cashpoint, although this is a

registered trade name for the cash machines used by
Lloyds TSB). Most debit cards have a cash withdrawal
facility, but not all cash cards have a payment facility.
15. Personal identification number. You will need to enter
this into a cash machine before you withdraw cash, and
you will need to enter it into a hand-held computer when
you use a card in a shop. 16. Sometimes. It depends on
the company that owns and operates the machine.
17. The shop can give you some cash from the till, and the
total amount of cash you take will be added to your
shopping bill. Many people use this system in addition to
using a cash machine, to withdraw cash. 18. A store
card works like a credit card, but you can only use it in that
store or chain. Store cards have received a lot of criticism
because many of them charge a very high rate of interest.
19. They offer customers a high credit limit, but they also
charge high rates of interest, especially if the customer
fails to pay off his / her balance, or part of that balance,
within a specified time. 20. APR = Annual Percentage
Rate, the rate of interest that you must pay over a year
when you borrow money (for example, if you borrow
£1000 at an APR of 10%, and you pay the money back
over 1 year, you will need to pay a total of £1100).
21. (a) an ISA (Individual Savings Account). People who
hold an ISA can put in a limited amount of money each
year (currently up to £3000), and interest is calculated and
paid at the end of the financial year (at the beginning of
April). A lot of different banks, building societies and
finance companies offer ISAs, with varying rates of
interest. 22. This is an order to your bank to regularly pay

money from your account to a person or organisation.
23. Both systems work in similar ways. However, with
direct debit, the amount of money that goes out of your
account can change, and this amount is decided by the
person or company you are paying (for example, an
electric bill, which changes each quarter). With a standing
order, the amount of money stays the same each time.
24. If you are refused credit, a bank or other company
refuses to let you borrow money, often because you have
a bad credit rating. You can ask the company why they
are refusing to lend you money, and you can check your
credit rating (for a fee) with a credit reference agency.
25. (a), (d), (g), (i) and (j) are supermarkets or department
stores. 26. This is an informal expression which means
that you have less than £0 in your account. In other
words, you are overdrawn. If you have money in your
account, we can say that you are in the black. 27. The
post office. National Savings and Investments is a
government-backed savings and investments service that
operates through the post office. 28. Online shopping /
banking is done on the Internet. The
± symbol shows
you that you are using a secure site, and no one can
access the information you are entering on your
computer. 29. (b) (insurance) brokers. Many people buy
insurance directly from the insurance companies
themselves, as this is often cheaper. 30. The system by
which the government regularly pays money to people
who do not have a job, or are too old or ill to work.
On the road (pages 32 – 33)

Exercise 1:
1. (a) 17, (b) car, (c) motorcycle, (d) 18, (e) lorry, (f) 21,
(g) lorry, (h) bus
2. (a) taxed, (b) tax disc, (c) insurance, (d) Third,
(e) insurance, (f) comprehensive, (g) insurance, (h)
penalties, (i) insurance, (j) fine, (k) disqualification, (l) 3,
(m) MOT, (n) garage, (o) insurance, (p) invalid
3. (a) provisional, (b) motorcycle, (c) 125, (d) 21, (e) full,
(f) 3, (g) provisional, (h) post office, (i) road tax
4. (a) learner, (b) L-plates, (c) public, (d) motorway
5. (a) full, (b) theory, (c) practical, (d) skills, (e) provisional,
(f) full
6. (a) full, (b) European Union, (c) valid, (d) 12
7. (a) DVLA, (b) Driver, (c) Vehicle, (d) Licensing, (e) Agency
Additional information
:
Note that once you have taxed your car (you can do this
for 6 months or 12 months), the DVLA will automatically
send you reminders to renew your tax when it is due. If
your car is not being used and is "off the road" for a long
period of time, you do not have to pay road tax, but you
must tell the DVLA if this is the case: a form called a SORN
(Statutory Off-Road Notification) is attached to your road
tax renewal form for this purpose.
The DVLA will not remind you when your car's MOT is
due: this is your responsibility.
If you renew your road tax at the post office, you will need
to show a certificate of insurance and (if your vehicle is
over 3 years old), a valid MOT certificate. If you do not,
they will not renew your road tax.

Exercise 2
:
1. (a) miles / miles per hour (mph), (b) 1 mile =
approximately 1.609 kilometres 2. False: all the
passengers must wear seatbelts 3. (a) Crash helmets, (b)
Followers of the Sikh faith do not need to wear a helmet
(if they are wearing their turban) 4. (a) 30mph, (b)
60mph, (c) and (d) 70mph 5. Give way means that you
must give priority to other vehicles on the road (for
example, at the junction of a road that you want to join,
at a roundabout where other vehicles are coming from
your right, etc) 6. False. We drive on the left. 7. (a)
Yes, he is. You cannot use a hand-held mobile phone
while you are driving your car (or even when your car is
stopped but the engine is still running, in a traffic-jam for
example). If the police catch you using one, you will
probably get an on-the-spot (= instant) fine, and may get
penalty points on your licence. (b) Yes, she is. If you use a
mobile phone while driving, the phone must not be
connected to the driver in any way. You must use a
wireless headpiece). 8. A Breathalyser ™ is a piece of
equipment that the police use to see if a driver has been
drinking alcohol. They will use it to perform a breath test
if they think a driver has had more than the permitted
amount of alcohol. Penalties are severe if the test is
Answer key
68
Answer key
positive and the driver is over the limit (= they have
exceeded the permitted amount): an automatic

disqualification from driving of at least one year is usually
the minimum penalty. A driver can be arrested if he / she
has a positive breath test or if he / she refuses to do a
breath test. 9. 999 or 112. These are the numbers for
the emergency services (police, ambulance, fire,
coastguard, etc). 10. Yes: a hit-and-run is an accident in
which you hit a pedestrian or cyclist and fail to stop at the
scene of the accident. It is an offence if you fail to stop
when you are involved in any
accident. 11. Their name,
address, vehicle registration number and insurance details
(i.e., the name of their motor insurance company). It is
also a good idea to make a note of their vehicle make and
colour. 12. Among other things, you should not admit
that the accident was your fault. Your insurance company
will decide this, based on the information you must give
them. 13. Tailgating is when you drive too close to the
vehicle in front of you. UK drivers say being tailgated is the
thing that makes them most angry. 14. After checking
that it is safe to pull out, you should always thank the
driver with a quick wave of your hand. Most drivers in the
UK are courteous, and expect the same from other road
users: they can get quite angry if another road user fails to
thank them for small acts of courtesy! 15. (b). The
Highway Code (= a book of road rules that every road user
needs to know) states that if you flash your lights, you are
claiming right of way. However, most drivers in the UK
ignore this rule! 16. In one situation only: to let other
road users know that you are there. It is an offence to use
it for any other reason. 17. Yes: the pedestrian has right

of way. 18. (a) speeding, (b) joyriding (= the crime of
stealing a car and driving it for pleasure), (c) disqualify, (d)
overtake, (e) reverse, f) indicate, g) brake, h) roundabout
(note that we go around a roundabout clockwise, and
must give way to vehicles coming from the right), i) traffic
lights, j) pedestrian crossing, k) junction, l) crossroads, m)
speed camera, n) traffic calming (= bollards, bumps, etc,
that prevent people from driving too fast in built-up
areas).
UK places, people and institutions (pages 34 – 35)
Exercise 1:
Towns and cities in England: Birmingham, Bristol,
Liverpool, York.
Towns and cities in Wales: Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Newport,
Swansea.
Towns and cities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Inverness.
Towns and cities in Northern Ireland: Armagh, Belfast,
Londonderry (often called Derry), Omagh.
Counties: Cornwall, Kent, Northumberland, Oxfordshire.
Rivers: Clyde, Severn, Thames, Tyne.
National Parks: Dartmoor, Lake District, The North York
Moors, the Pembrokeshire Coast.
Lakes: (Lough) Neagh, (Loch) Ness, (Lake) Ullswater, (Lake)
Windermere (which is also the name of the town by the
lake).
Exercise 2
:
Banks: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, NatWest (= National
Westminster).

Supermarkets: Asda, Morrison's, Sainsbury, Tesco.
Department stores: BHS (British Home Stores),
Debenhams, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer (often
shortened to Marks or M and S in spoken English).
Places to eat: Ask, Beefeater, Harvester, Little Chef.
Airlines: British Airways, BMIbaby, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic.
London airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted.
British seaports: Dover, Harwich, Liverpool, Southampton.
Museums and galleries: Ashmolean (Oxford), Hunterian
(Glasgow), Tate Modern (London), Victoria and Albert
(London).
Exercise 3
:
Newspapers: The Guardian, The Independent, The
Telegraph, The Sun.
Sporting events: The Ashes (cricket. This is also held in
Australia), The FA Cup Final (football), The Grand National
(horse racing), The Royal Regatta (rowing).
Sporting venues: Newmarket (horse racing), Silverstone
(motor racing), Wembley Stadium (football and athletics),
Wimbledon (tennis). Note that Newmarket and
Wimbledon are also often used to describe the events that
are held there: "When does Wimbledon begin this year?"
National holidays: Boxing Day (26th December), Easter
Monday (March or April), The first Monday in May, New
Year's Day (1st January).
Traditional days: Guy Fawkes Night (5th November),
Mothering Sunday (the 3rd Sunday before Easter),
Remembrance Day (11th November, but normally
observed on the Sunday before when this date falls during

the week), Saint Valentine's Day (14th February).
Charity organisations: Oxfam, The Red Cross, The RSPCA,
Save the Children.
Famous tourist sights: Canterbury Cathedral, Edinburgh
Castle, Stonehenge, The Tower of London.
Common pub names: The Queen's Head, The Red Lion,
The Rose and Crown, The White Hart.
Exercise 4
:
Political parties: Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal
Democrat.
Government positions: The Chancellor of the Exchequer,
The Foreign Secretary, The Home Secretary, The Leader of
the Opposition.
Prime Ministers: David Lloyd George, Margaret Thatcher,
Tony Blair, Winston Churchill.
Scientists and inventors: Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton,
Michael Faraday, Tim Berners-Lee.
Main religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism.
Famous writers: Charles Dickens, George Orwell, Graham
Greene, J.K. Rowling.
Artists and composers: Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar,
John Constable, JMW Turner.
Television programmes: Coronation Street, Eastenders,
Panorama, Newsnight.
Politics and government 1 (pages 36 – 38)
Across:
1. Home Office 5. House of Lords (Note that the House
of Lords can delay, but not prevent, legislation (see 13
Answer key

Answer key
69
across) coming from the House of Commons.) 8. first
past the post 10. eligible 12. constituent
13. legislation 20. Member of Parliament
21. electorate 22. Question Time 24. spin (a spin
doctor is someone whose job is to give journalists
information that makes a politician or organisation seem
as good as possible) 26. general election (Elections that
are held to elect officials who provide public services in
particular towns or areas are called local elections.)
29. Home Secretary 30. Cabinet (Cabinet decisions on
important matters must be submitted to Parliament for
approval.) 31. Shadow Cabinet 33. Speaker
34. House of Commons 35. Liberal Democrats
Down
:
1. proportional 3. Opposition (Its formal name is Her
Majesty's Loyal Opposition.) 4. Scottish* 6. Foreign
Office (Its full name is the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, often abbreviated in writing to FCO.) 7. Leader of
the Opposition 9. democracy 11. Downing Street
(often used as a general expression that is used to refer to
the Prime Minister and the government: "We are currently
waiting for a statement from Downing Street")
14. Chancellor of the Exchequer (responsible every year
for setting the country's budget) 15. constituency
16. Prime Minister (often abbreviated to the PM)
17. Foreign Secretary 18. secret ballot 19. by-election
23. confidence 25. constitution 27. Whitehall

(Although this is the name of a street, it also refers to the
area where the government is based, including the
Houses of Parliament. It is often used as a general word to
describe all the government officials who work for the
British government: "We're still waiting for a decision
from Whitehall".) 28. whip 32. Assembly (Northern
Ireland also has some independence, in the form of the
Northern Ireland Assembly.)*
* There are more questions on the Scottish, Welsh, and
Northern Ireland political systems in the Politics and
government 3 on page 41.
Politics and government 2 (pages 39 – 40)
1. (b) a lobby (this has a similar role to a pressure group,
although a pressure group is generally seen as a voluntary
group of ordinary citizens which is not affiliated to a
particular organisation, trade, etc). 2. (d) a judge cannot
challenge the legality of a law passed by Parliament.
3. (a) make his / her own judgement (and so "create" a
law. This is a good example of how the common law
system works in the UK). Also note that if a judge feels
that a previous judgement in a similar case does not
reflect modern society, he / she can make his / her own
judgement (and so "change" an existing law). 4. (c) the
Lord Chancellor (who selects from nominations provided
by existing judges). 5. All of these. 6. (d) the
Metropolitan Police. 7. (b), (c), and (d) Local councillors
and magistrates (who form a 'police authority') and the
Home Secretary. 8. (a) the IPCC (The Independent Police
Complaints Commission), although in the first instance
you should complain directly to the police force

responsible. Other people and groups you could contact
for help and advice include your local Citizens
' Advice
office (CAB) and your local Member of Parliament (MP).
9. (d) the Civil Service. People who work for the Civil
Service are called civil servants. 10. (a) and (d)
professionalism and political neutrality. The civil service
can warn government ministers if they think a policy is
impractical, impossible, unnecessary or against the public
interest, but ultimately they must put that policy into
practice. 11. (a) it must put the new government's
policies into practice. 12. All of these. Most areas have
both county and district councils. Large towns and cities
have just one council (borough, city or metropolitan).
13. (a) local authorities. 14. All of these (and many more.
Telephone directories usually list the different
departments that provide these services, and most
councils have their own website providing further
information). 15. (b) a councillor. 16. (b) they must be
elected in local elections (and either have local
connections with that area, work in or for that area, be on
the local electoral register or rent / own property in that
area). 17. (a) local government services that must be
provided because the central government says they must
be provided. The services described in (b) are called
"permissive services". In England and Wales, councils can
only provide permissive services if central government
legislation allows them to do so. In Scotland, they can
provide them unless central government expressly forbids
them. 18. (a) and (c) the government (about 80%) and

local people (about 20%). 19. (c) men and women over
18 (lowered from 21 in 1969. Women achieved the right
to vote in 1928). Your name must be on the electoral
register to do this. 20. (a) and (e) a general right to vote
and the right to hold a British passport. However,
Commonwealth citizens, and citizens of the Republic of
Ireland can vote in all public elections if they are resident
in the UK, and EU citizens who are resident in the UK can
vote in local elections (but not in national parliamentary
elections). 21. (b) £500 for MPs and members of the
Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland
Assemblies, and £5000 for Members of the European
Parliament. 22. (b) at least 5%. 23. All of these,
although some MPs do not hold regular morning
surgeries. Contact details for MPs, MEPs, MSPs and
Assembly members can be found in the telephone
directory. 24. (a) it has fallen, especially among younger
people, who complain that they have become 'alienated'
by and from mainstream politics.
Politics and government 3 (page 41)
Here is the complete text, with the correct spellings in
bold.
The process of taking power from a central authority or
government and giving it to smaller, more local regions
is called devolution. This began in the UK in 1997, with
the result that since 1999 there has been an Assembly in
Wales and a Parliament in Scotland.
The Welsh Assembly* and the Scottish Parliament have
control over many local issues, but can only debate the
policy and laws governing general taxation, social

Answer key
70
Answer key
security, defence and foreign affairs (which are decided
by central government in London).
The Scottish Parliament is based in Edinburgh (Scotland's
principal city), and is funded by a grant from the UK
government. Scotland has had some limited autonomy
from London for quite a long time, but the decision to
begin creating a separate Parliament did not happen
until a national referendum in 1997. Unlike the Welsh
Assembly (see the paragraph below), the Scottish
Parliament can make its own laws (with exceptions such
as those listed in the paragraph above), and even has
some powers over national income tax rates. Also, unlike
the Welsh Assembly and the UK Parliament, members
(known as MSPs) are elected by a type of proportional
representation.
The Welsh Assembly is based in Cardiff (the Welsh
capital). Assembly members are chosen in elections
which are held every four years. It makes its own decisions
on many local issues and policies such as education,
health services and the environment. Although the
Assembly cannot make laws for Wales, it is able to
propose laws to central UK Parliament in Westminster
who can then discuss them and possibly create
legislation based on those proposals.
The Northern Ireland Assembly, based at Stormont in
Belfast, was formed after the two main organisations
responsible for terrorist activity in the region (the IRA – the

Irish Republican Army – and the UDA – the Ulster
Defence Association) agreed to cease armed hostilities.
In the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the main political
wings of these groups agreed to work together with other
political parties in a power-sharing agreement which
resulted in the formation of the Assembly. Its powers are
similar to the Welsh Assembly. However, it can be (and
occasionally has been) suspended by the central UK
government if the political leaders fail to work together,
or if they act against the interests of the citizens of
Northern Ireland.
For most people in the UK, contact and dealings with the
government are through organisations known as non-
departmental public bodies. These include: spending
agencies such as regional health authorities and higher
education funding councils; trading bodies to raise
revenue, such as the National Savings and Investments
and the Forestry Commission; quasi-judicial and
prosecuting bodies, such as the Monopolies and Mergers
Commission, the Crown Prosecution Service and the IPCC
(see Politics and Government 2 on page 39); Statutory
Advisory Bodies to Ministers, such as the Health and
Safety Commission, the Equal Opportunities
Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality;
development agencies, such as the Highlands and Islands
Development Board in Scotland, and the Welsh
Development Agency.
* Full name: The National Assembly for Wales.
In the pub (page 42)
1. Public house. 2. They must have a licence which

allows them to sell alcohol for drinking on the premises (=
in the pub). 3. He / She is the person who owns /
manages the pub (and often holds the licence in number
2). 4. It is an independent pub: it is not owned by a
brewery (= a company that makes beer). 5. 18 (or 16 if
you are eating a meal in a part of a pub that is set aside for
eating meals. However, they can only drink beer, wine or
cider). Some pubs, especially in large towns and cities, will
only serve alcohol to people who are 21 or over.
6. Usually yes, if they are accompanied by someone who
is at least 18 years old. However, many pubs will refuse to
admit children in the evenings. Some pubs have family
rooms where children are allowed with their parents.
7. When this book was being written, you could smoke in
pubs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not in
Scotland. From spring 2007 in Northern Ireland, and from
summer 2007 in England, smoking will be banned in all
pubs. 8. You go directly to the bar. 9. Bitter, lager and
stout are varieties of beer. Cider is an alcoholic drink made
from apples. Spirits are strong alcoholic drinks such as
whisky, vodka and brandy. 10. Pints and half pints (1
pint = 0.57 litres). 11. A single = 25ml, a double = 50ml.
12. Yes. They are called soft drinks. Many pubs also serve
non-alcoholic beer 13. You are buying a drink for
yourself and for the friends you are with. You would be
considered very rude if you were with other people and
only bought a drink for yourself. 14. He is suggesting
that everyone in the group gives one person in the group
a certain amount of money, and that money is used to buy
rounds. 15. You pay for drinks (and usually for food) as

you buy them (but see number 16). 16. You want to pay
for everything when you leave the pub, instead of paying
for everything separately. Many pubs will let you start a
tab if you leave a credit or debit card behind the bar.
17. No, although it would be considered rude to spend all
evening with just one drink, especially if the pub is busy.
18. No, but it is normal to offer to buy a drink for the bar
person. He / she will usually just take the money for that
drink instead, or use it to buy him / herself a drink later.
19. No, we stand at the bar with everyone else and wait to
be served. 20. You should look hopeful and try to 'catch
the bar person's eye'. Some people also hold their money
in front of them so that the bar person can see they are
waiting to be served. Never
whistle, click your fingers,
shout or wave your hand in the air! 21. Apologise, and
offer to buy them another drink. 22. Normally yes, but
you should always ask first. 23. Normally yes, but it
depends on the kind of pub and where it is. Generally,
people in pubs in villages and small towns are more
receptive to starting a conversation than those in big
towns or cities. 24. He wants to know where the toilets
are. A female customer would ask for the 'ladies'.
25. Pub grub is food (usually traditional pub food such as
shepherd's pie, ploughman's lunch etc: see the section in
this book on Food). Bar snacks are crisps, peanuts and
other light 'nibbles', but might also include sandwiches.
26. Pubs that serve good quality food that you would
normally expect to find in an expensive restaurant.
27. The pub will stop serving alcohol in ten minutes.

28. The pub has stopped serving alcohol and you have
Answer key
Answer key
71
twenty minutes to finish your drinks. 29. 11pm, but
many pubs can apply, or have applied, for an extended
licence, which means that they can serve alcohol later
than 11 o'clock. Some pubs will apply for a temporary
extended licence for special occasions, such as a party.
30. Yes: pubs are usually licensed to sell alcohol for
consumption off the premises. 31. Traditional pub
games. 32. You must leave the pub and not return,
because you have said or done something bad. In some
cases, if you are barred from one pub, you might
automatically find yourself barred from other pubs in the
area. 33. Yes. Many pubs specify in writing that service
is at the discretion of the management, which means they
do not have to give a reason. However, most decent bar
workers will normally tell you why they are refusing to
serve you. In most cases this will be because you are (or
look) too young and do not have ID (= identification) to
prove otherwise, are inappropriately dressed, have already
had too much to drink or are barred (see number 32).
34. Binge drinking is where someone (usually a young
man or woman) drinks a lot of alcohol very quickly and
becomes very drunk. Binge drinking often results in fights,
accidents and other problems.
Relationships 1: Marriage and related issues (page
43)
1. False. It is called a marriage. An engagement is when a

man and woman announce their intention to get married.
2. No. 3. (a) 16, (b) 18*. 4. Yes. 5. Yes, but nobody
can be forced to marry against their will. 6. spouse.
7. False. Generally a partner is someone you live with (and
with whom you have a sexual relationship), although
some people do refer to their spouse as their partner.
8. 16 (the age of consent is the age at which couples are
allowed to have a sexual relationship). 9. No. Same-sex
relationships are legal. 10. No. Same-sex partners
sometimes go through a marriage ceremony in countries
where this is allowed, but the marriage will not be
recognised in the UK. However, a recently-introduced Civil
Partnerships bill gives same-sex couples many of the same
rights and responsibilities as married couples. Same-sex
couples have to register their commitment in a civil
ceremony. 11. No. A marriage must be monogamous (a
man can only have one wife, and vice versa).
12. Certificates from the Registrar of Marriages in the
districts in which they live. 13. No, although it is
customary. 14. Yes. 15. (a) religious worship, (b)
registry office, (c) local authority. 16. No. 17. A
separation (from the verb to separate) is the state of two
married people no longer living with each other. A divorce
is the legal termination of a marriage (divorce can also be
a verb: to divorce). 18. Yes, and has been able to do so
since 1857. 19. They cannot divorce within one year of
getting married. 20. Yes, unless there are sound reasons
why she cannot have children (for example, for health
reasons). A woman can divorce her husband for the same
reason. 21. Yes. A man or woman who physically attacks

his / her partner can be accused of assault or grievous
bodily harm. 22. Yes.
18 is called the age of majority in the UK. When a person
becomes 18, he / she can marry without his / her parents'
permission, vote in an election, buy and drink alcohol in a
public place, etc.
Relationships 2: Children and related issues (page
44)
1. (a) The mother (unless the father marries the mother
after the birth, gets the mother's agreement to have joint
responsibility, obtains parental responsibility by applying
to a court, or jointly registers the birth with the mother).
Married couples have joint parental responsibility. 2. (b)
Until the child is 18. 3. (c) Both of them (even if the
couple separate). 4. It depends on many issues, but in
most cases the mother gets custody. However, unless
there are adverse circumstances, the father should have
access to his children on a regular basis (in other words, he
sees his children, he takes them out, they stay at his home,
etc). 5. Yes, but the use of force must be reasonable (in
other words, they should not smack them too hard or they
could be prosecuted for assault. Alternatively, the child
could be taken into the care of the local authority).
6. Yes, in extreme circumstances (for example, if the child
is in physical danger from one or both parents, if the child
is not being fed and clothed properly, etc). 7. (a) child
support or (b) child maintenance. 8. Yes. 9. Child
Support Agency. 10. (c) 17. 11. No, as long as the
doctor or nurse believes the child understands what is
involved. 12. Yes, although they will encourage that

person to discuss the issues involved with a parent.
13. Yes. Children under the age of 16 should be left in the
care of a responsible person who is aged 16 or over.
14. No. Children under 16 are not allowed to work before
7 in the morning and after 7 in the evening. 15. No.
Three laws are being broken: (1) Children below the age
of 14 cannot do paid work. (2) Children below the age of
17 cannot work in a kitchen. (3) Children under the age of
16 cannot work for more than one hour before school.
16. No. Young people below the age of 16 cannot sell
cigarettes or alcohol. Those aged 16 or 17 can sell alcohol
in a shop, provided each individual sale has the approval
of someone aged 18 or over. 17. No, people are allowed
to smoke from the age of 16. 18. No, it is legal to drive
a car from the age of 17 (with a qualified driver over 21
until you pass your test).
Shopping and consumerism (pages 45 – 46)
Exercise 1:
1. Waterstones 2. The Link 3. Boots 4. Marks and
Spencer (often simply called Marks by shoppers)
5. Holland and Barrett 6. Hallmark 7. Cargo 8. Next
9. W.H. Smith (often simply called Smith's by shoppers)
10. Clarks 11. Prêt a Manger 12. Starbucks
13. Dixons 14. Robert Dyas 15. Specsavers 16. HMV
17. Thomas Cook 18. Tesco 19. Argos 20. Barclays
Exercise 2
:
1. responsibilities and liabilities 2. satisfactory quality /
'as described' / 'fit for purpose' 3. guarantee or warranty
4. within a reasonable time / wear and tear 5. proof of

Answer key
72
Answer key
purchase / receipt 6. defective / give a refund / credit
voucher 7. cooling-off period 8. accurate description /
delivery arrangements 9. credit card fraud / opt out of /
unsolicited mail / unsolicited telemarketing / written
confirmation 10. specified period 11. claim for
compensation 12. reasonable care and skill / poor
workmanship / reasonable charge
Signs and notices (pages 47 – 48)
1. On a bus or at a bus stop. 2. In a bank. 3. In a
supermarket (at the checkout. Or there might be a sign
that says '6 / 8 / 10 (etc) items or less / fewer'. 4. Outside
a hotel (usually a smaller, private hotel) or guest house.
5. By the side of the road (usually on a busy road, where
your stopped vehicle might cause a delay). 6. On or
outside a commercial or residential building: the building
is vacant, and you can rent it. 7. In a car park: you must
buy a ticket from a machine and put it inside your car
windscreen). 8. On the packet or bottle of a
pharmaceutical product: you should not eat or drink this
product. 9. By the side of the road (usually on a gate or
garage door: the owner does not want you to park there).
10. At a bus stop. 11. Outside a piece of private land: if
you go onto this land, the owner might take legal action
against you. 12. In a library or hospital (or any other
place where you should not make a noise). 13. On a
machine or toilet door: you cannot use it because it is
broken. 14. In a shop (cards = credit cards). 15. On a

shop window (it might also say Final sale or Clearance
sale). 16. On an envelope or a parcel (which contains
something that might break easily). 17. In a supermarket
(at the fresh food counter, where they might be a large
group of people waiting to be served. You might also see
this sign in other situations where a large group of people
are waiting for service). 18. and 19. At the entrance to a
toilet (Gents = gentlemen). 20. On the packet or bottle
of a pharmaceutical product: you are being warned not to
take too much of it. 21. On a fire alarm. 22. In a public
area such as a shopping centre or park. 23. On your car
windscreen: you have just received a parking ticket).
24. On a wall or other flat surface: you must not put
advertising posters and signs on this wall. 25. Outside a
hotel or guest house. A B&B is a bed and breakfast, a type
of small, privately-owned hotel / guest house which is very
common all over the UK. 26. On the emergency alarm
on a train (for example, on the underground. You will be
fined if you pull the alarm without a good reason).
27. On a wall or other empty surface (that has just been
painted: you are being warned not to touch it). 28. In a
public area such as a shopping centre or park. 29. On
an envelope or parcel (that contains something that might
break easily). 30. By the side of the road: you are being
told to drive more slowly. 31. On the London
Underground (specifically on the escalator, so that people
can walk on the left side). 32. By the side of the road:
other traffic has priority over you. 33. At a bus stop (or
other places where you are expected to queue and it is not
obvious where you should do this). 34. In a hotel.

35. In a pub. 36. At the zoo. 37. In the entrance to a
museum, theatre or cinema: concessions are reduced
prices. 38. In a shop: you are being warned not to steal
anything. 39. Outside a hotel or guest house (which has
a bar that you can use even if you are not staying in the
hotel). 40. Outside a pub (which has 'entertainment' for
its customers). 41. By the side of the road: you cannot
drive your car here. 42. Outside a pub. 43. At a bus
stop / on a bus. 44. In a car park / by the side of the road
(where parking is limited to a fixed period of time: when
you leave, you cannot return there for the time specified).
45. In a pub (or anywhere else where you need to be a
particular age to do something, in this case drink alcohol).
46. Outside a pub: they can refuse to let you in. 47. In a
café. 48. On the back of a lorry or commercial vehicle.
This is usually followed by a telephone number you can
call if you want to complain about the driver.
Spoken responses (pages 49 – 50)
1. well (we can say I'm fine, but not I'm very fine)
2. weather (the speaker is not feeling very well) 3. truth
4. looking 5. sorry 6. Bless (the usual response when
somebody sneezes) 7. see 8. worry 9. leg (= you're
joking) 10. to (we can also say you too) 11. home
12. lips 13. congratulations 14. chin 15. sleep
16. rather (= a polite way of saying no) 17. chance (= a
very informal / impolite way of saying no) 18. love
19. eyeballs 20. luck / fingers 21. returns (we can also
say Happy birthday) 22. wood (= an expression we use
when we hope that something will or won't happen)
23. tongue 24. cheese (we say say cheese when we are

taking a photograph and we want someone to smile)
25. port 26. guest 27. help 28. bad or tough (we can
also say tough luck) 29. bird 30. dreams 31. on
32. message 33. fun 34. beggars 35. hair 36. life
(sometimes used as an imperative when we think that
someone is very boring: "Get a life!") 37. Dutch
38. care (we can also say look after yourself. If we want
someone to write / phone / text / email us, we might also
say keep in touch) 39. hands 40. ears
The UK A – Z (pages 51 – 53)
Exercise 1:
1. b 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. a 6. b 7. a 8. a 9. a
10. a 11. a 12. b 13. b 14. b 15. a
Exercise 2
:
1. a 2. b 3. b 4. a 5. b 6. b 7. a 8. b 9. b
10. b 11. b 12. b 13. a 14. a 15. b
Exercise 3
:
1. b 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. a 6. a 7. b 8. b 9. a
10. a 11. b 12. a 13. b 14. b 15. a
Utilities and services (page 54)
1. According to the water companies, it is perfectly safe to
drink. However, because it can be quite heavily
chlorinated, many people prefer to drink bottled or
filtered water. 2. All of these. The water companies
usually send you one bill, and you can either pay it all at
Answer key
Answer key
73

once, or pay half when you receive the bill and the other
half six months later (if you choose this option, the
company will send you a reminder for the second half).
Alternatively, you can spread the cost over 10 months,
usually paying by direct debit. 3. It depends. In some
areas, you pay according to the size of your property, and
in other areas you have a water meter which records the
amount of water you use. Water companies try to
encourage people to install a water meter in their home.
4. It depends. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. 5. 240
volts. Three-pin plugs with rectangular pins, connect
electrical items to the mains. 6. Most
homes are supplied
with gas. 7. Different companies, all offering different
price plans. It is quite common for a gas company to also
supply electricity, and vice versa. It is possible to move
between suppliers if you are not happy with the service
you are currently receiving. 8. Gas. Transco are also the
people you should call if you smell gas in your home or in
the street. Their telephone number in such a situation is
0800 111 999. For general enquiries (for example, if you
want to know the name of the gas suppliers in your
region), you can call 0870 608 1524. For information on
electricity suppliers, you can call Energywatch on 0845
906 0708. 9. British Telecom, although there are many
other providers for both land-line and mobile telephone
services. For many Internet services (especially
broadband), you will need a British Telecom land-line in
your home. 10. Either of these numbers will connect you
to the emergency services. 11. Once a week, usually on

the same day (although this often changes for the week
immediately following a national holiday). This service is
provided by the local council. 12. Possible. In fact,
people are being actively encouraged to recycle more.
Many councils provide residents with special boxes for
this, and these are collected during the week, usually on
the same day as regular household rubbish. Most towns
and villages also have recycling banks (usually in a car
park) where you can take items to leave for recycling.
13. You cannot do this. However, you can call your
council to arrange for these to be collected. They
sometimes make a charge for this. 14. Council tax. The
amount you pay usually depends on the size and value of
the property. This amount is normally reduced by 25% if
just one person (or one person and children under 18)
lives in the property. Reductions are also made for people
on low incomes or for people who are out of work and
claiming benefits. 15. All of these are possible. If you pay
in instalments (from April to January), most councils will
let you pay by direct debit. 16. Household insurance that
insures the building against fire, theft and accidental
damage. 17. Both of these are possible. However,
evictions are only used as an extreme measure. Most
offenders will be 'bound over to keep the peace', which
means that they must behave properly and decently or
face further legal action. 18. Try to talk to your
neighbour. You could also talk to other neighbours to see
if they are being affected, and you can also ask for advice
from your local authority. Do not call the police unless you
feel that the situation is getting quickly out of hand or if

your neighbour becomes abusive or violent.
Where are they? (pages 55 – 57)
Exercise 1:
1. (a) meter, (b) luggage, (c) change. They are in a taxi.
Additional notes
:
Speaker 1 (the driver) calls speaker 2 (the passenger)
'mate'. This is a very informal (usually friendly) way men
have of addressing other men. If the driver wanted to be
more polite, he would say 'sir'. Women are often
informally addressed as 'love' or 'dear', or more formally
as 'madam'. Be careful how and when you use words like
'mate', 'love' or 'dear', as many people consider them to
be too informal.
When Speaker 2 says 'Keep the change', he is giving the
taxi driver a tip. A tip of 10 – 15% is acceptable and
welcomed by taxi drivers, waiters, hotel staff, hairdressers,
etc.
2. (a) return, (b) peak, (c) fare, (d) platform. They are at a
railway station.
Additional notes
:
A return ticket will take you to your destination and back.
If you just want to go to your destination, ask for a single
or one way ticket.
On trains, the peak period is usually in the morning during
the working week (Monday – Friday) when people are
going to work.
3. (a) room service, (b) checked in, (c) housekeeping, (d)
reception, (e) mini bar. They are in a hotel (talking on the

telephone).
4. (a) performance, (b) matinee, (c) circle, (d) stage. They
are in a theatre.
Additional notes
:
A matinee is a cinema or theatre performance in the
afternoon. The circle is a seating area that is upstairs in a
theatre, and the stalls are downstairs, closer to the stage.
The stage is where the actors and actresses perform.
5. (a) packing, (b) cashback, (c) PIN. They are at a
supermarket checkout.
Additional notes
:
Maestro is the trademark name of a debit card, which you
can use to buy things in a shop or take money out of a
cash machine. Some larger supermarkets offer you
cashback when you use a debit card, which means that
they give you cash and add the amount to your shopping
bill. A PIN is a personal identification number, a four-digit
security number that you need to know when using a
debit card: in shops, you enter these numbers into an
electronic handset.
6. (a) round, (b) pints, (c) snacks, (d) bar, (e) yourself,
(f) half. They are in a pub.
Additional notes
:
When Speaker 2 says 'It's my round', she is offering to buy
drinks for herself and her friend. It is traditional, and
usually expected, in pubs for friends to take it in turns to
buy 'rounds' of drinks for each other.

In pubs, beer and cider (an alcoholic apple-based drink) is
served in pints or half pints. A British pint is equivalent to
0.57 litres.
Snacks are light meals, such as sandwiches or burgers.
When Speaker 2 says to Speaker 3 (the person working
behind the bar) 'And one for yourself?', she is offering to
buy him a drink. We do not give tips to people working
behind the bar in a pub, but it is traditional to offer to buy
Answer key
74
Answer key
him / her a drink. He / she will probably not drink this
immediately, but will do so later. He / she will add the cost
of this drink to your total bill.
Also note that in a pub, you order your drinks from the bar
(you do not sit down and wait to be served), and you pay
for them when you get them, although some pubs might
let you have a tab, and you pay for all the drinks (and any
food) you have had when you leave.
If a pub is very busy, people are usually happy to share a
table with others, as long as they are asked first. This
would not normally be considered acceptable in a
restaurant.
Exercise 2
:
1. (a) prescription, (b) registered, (c) surgery,(d) GP. They
are in a doctor's surgery, clinic or health centre.
Additional notes
:
A repeat prescription is medicine that you use on a regular

basis that you need a doctor's note for. Note that many
medicines that you can normally buy directly from a
chemist or pharmacist in your country may require a
doctor's prescription in the UK.
A GP is a general practitioner, a doctor who deals with
general health problems.
2. (a) pharmacist, (b) hay fever, (c) remedies, (d) allergy, (e)
branded. They are in a chemist or pharmacy.
Additional notes
:
Over-the-counter remedies are medicines that you do not
need a doctor's prescription for, but may still need to be
sold by a qualified pharmacist. Many of these are branded
(they are made by major companies with well-known
names), but most chemists sell their own-brand versions,
which contain the same active ingredients, but which are
usually much cheaper.
Hay fever is a common, harmless but unpleasant medical
condition caused by flower and grass pollen that affects
your nose and eyes. It is most common in the summer.
Hay fever sufferers sneeze a lot and their eyes itch.
3. (a) reservation, (b) service, (c) dessert, (d) bill. They are
in a restaurant.
Additional notes
:
Meals in restaurants usually consist of three or more
courses: the starter; the main course; the dessert. The
starter and the main course are ordered together at the
beginning of the meal, the dessert is ordered after you
have had the main course.

4. (a) deposit, (b) balance, (c) account, (d) statement,
(e) transactions, (f) withdrawal. They are in a bank or
building society.
Additional notes
:
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9
o'clock to 5 o'clock, but in some smaller towns they might
open later and close earlier. Some banks in bigger towns
and cities also open on a Saturday morning.
The bank where you hold your bank account is known as
your branch: "Is your account at this branch?"
5. (a) change, (b) pass, (c) seat, (d) shout. They are on a
bus.
Additional notes
:
Many bus services only accept the exact amount of money
for the fare, and cannot give you change. If you do not
have the right change, the bus driver should give you a
credit note so that you can get your money back from the
bus company.
Speaker 2 (the bus driver) says 'Take a seat', which is an
informal way of saying 'Sit down', and 'I'll give you a
shout' which is an informal way of saying 'I'll tell you
when something is ready or when I need you' (in this case,
he will tell Speaker 1 – the passenger – when the bus
arrives at his destination).
6. (a) pump, (b) unleaded, (c) receipt. They are at a petrol
station.
Additional notes
:

Most petrol stations in the UK are self-service: you put the
petrol in the car yourself, remember your pump number,
then pay at the cash desk.
Exercise 3
:
1. (a) first class, (b) scales, (c) road tax, (d) insurance,
(e) application. They are in a post office.
Additional notes
:
Post offices provide a wide range of services. In addition to
sending letters, parcels, etc, you can buy things such as
insurance and foreign currency, you can pay bills (the post
office sometimes charges you for this), you can withdraw
money and you can pay money into your bank account
(again, a small charge may be made for this).
British post has a two-tier system: first class and second
class. First class post is quicker but more expensive than
second class post. You can also send post by recorded or
special delivery, which means that the person receiving it
has to sign for it and you can get a record of this: this is
usually recommended for important or valuable items that
you want to post.
Post is delivered by an organisation callled The Royal Mail.
The cost of sending an item of post depends on how you
send it, and on both the weight and
size of that item.
2. (a) clamped, (b) ticket, (c) Park and Ride, (d) time limit,
(e) bay, f) attendant. They are in a car park.
Additional notes
:

Speaker 1's car has been clamped: a device has been put
on one of the wheels to stop him driving his car. He will
need to pay a fine before the clamp is removed.
Many major towns and cities have Park and Ride facilities.
These are large car parks outside the town where you
leave your car and then take a bus to the town centre.
Parking regulations are strictly enforced in many places. If
you park in the wrong place or fail to buy a ticket, you car
could be clamped or towed away (= removed to a car
pound).
3. (a) bags, (b) scales, (c) pack, (d) interfered, (e) boarding
pass, (f) delay, (g) departure, (h) gate, (i) flight. They are at
an airport check-in.
Additional notes
:
Airport procedures are very strict, and it is important to
allow yourself lots of time to check in, go through the
security and passport checks and get to your departure
gate. It can be especially slow at larger airports such as
London-Heathrow.
4. (a) concessions, (b) senior citizens, (c) guide, (d) gallery,
(e) exhibits. They are in a museum.
Additional notes
:
Concessions are reduced-price tickets for certain groups
of people in places such as museums, theatres, etc. Senior
citizens are people who are more than 60 years old.
5. (a) enrol, (b) course, (c) booked, (d) waiting list,
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(e) prospectus. They are at a college (of further education).
Additional notes
:
Colleges of Further Education (CFEs) are found in most
large towns and cities, and offer a large variety of study
courses. Most of these are subsidised by local education
authorities, which means that courses are cheaper and
more affordable than private educational institutes. A
prospectus lists the different courses that you can do at
the college.
A year in the UK: Traditions, holidays and other
occasions 1 (page 58)
1. New Year's 2. resolutions 3. Scotland 4. Epiphany
5. twelfth night 6. decorations 7. Burns Night
8. Robert Burns 9. whisky 10. haggis 11. tatties and
neeps 12. Shrove Tuesday 13. Pancake 14. Ash
Wednesday 15. Lent 16. Easter 17. St Valentine's
18. leap 19. St David's 20. Wales 21. Welsh
22. daffodil 23. St Patrick's 24. Ireland 25. Irish
26. forward 27. British 28. Summer 29. Time (BST)
30. Mothering 31. Mothers' 32. mothers
A year in the UK: Traditions, holidays and other
occasions 2 (page 59)
1. Fools' (also called All Fools' Day) 2. midday 3. Good
4. buns 5. breakfast 6. Sunday 7. secular (= non-
religious) 8. eggs 9. lamb 10. Monday 11. Northern
Ireland 12. Scotland 13. birthday 14. George's
15. England 16. white with a red cross (the English flag,
or the flag of St George: do not confuse this with the

more familiar Union flag, which is the flag of the United
Kingdom, and combines elements of the four countries'
national flags) 17. Monday 18. Morris 19. maypole
20. Monday 21. Spring 22. longest 23. Midsummer
Day 24. Father's Day 25. Boyne (often simply called
Orange Day) 26. protestants 27. Scotland
28. Northern Ireland
A year in the UK: Traditions, holidays and other
occasions 3 (page 60)
The words you need to put in the grid are:
1. Guy Fawkes Night (Guido Fawkes – shortened to Guy –
was the man who was guarding the explosives in the
cellar of Parliament when the King's men discovered the
plot. We often burn his effigy on top of our fire on Guy
Fawkes Night) 2. St Andrew's Day 3. Greetings
4. holly 5. New Year's Eve (often celebrated with parties
that last until early in the morning) 6. turkey
7. Scotland 8. Hogmanay 9. Bonfire Night 10. Boxing
Day 11. mistletoe (a plant that couples traditionally kiss
under at Christmas) 12. sporting 13. Remembrance
Day (usually observed on the Sunday closest to 11th
November, when the Queen and senior politicians hold a
service in London which is shown live on television)
14. Halloween 15. silence
The person in the shaded vertical strip is Father Christmas
(also called Santa Claus), a friendly mythical character who
has a long beard and dresses in red. He visits houses
during the night of December 24th / 25th and leaves
presents for children (who sometimes hang a stocking or
sack at the end of their bed or by the fire so that he can fill

them with presents).
Note that other traditions and customs are observed by
other cultural and religious groups in the UK, but are not
considered 'national' days or events. Examples include
Chinese New Year, Divali, Yom Kippur, Passover,
Hannukah, Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr, Purim, Orthodox Easter,
etc.
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Answer key